Nickelodeon has been paving the way for bonafide actors for decades, and Cree Cicchino is the network's latest rising star. The 14-year-old landed her first role as Babe Carano in Dan Schneider's Game Shakers sitcom, which premiered on Sept. 15, 2015. The show focuses on two 7th grade friends, Babe and Kenzie Bell (Madisyn Shipman), whose science project quickly turns into a popular gaming app that catches the eye of rap billionaire Double G (Nickelodeon veteran Kel Mitchell).

As part of Fuse's Teen Takeover Week, we chatted with Cicchino about her role on Game Shakers, why she already considers herself a grandma, a love for competitive dancing (and Beyoncé) and much more.

FUSE: What was the defining moment that made you want to pursue acting?Cree Cicchino:I don’t know if I really had one. I grew up as a competition dancer
and I’ve been dancing since I was 4, so I’ve always loved performing in front
of people. Every now and then I would have to go to a studio a little bit
farther from home where my sister danced. So when I had nothing to do, my mom
and I said “Hey, why don’t we try acting? Let’s give it a shot.” We weren’t
really expecting anything. So I took a little monologue class and after three
months we had a showcase. We didn’t know what was happening; we thought it was
just for the parents and teachers. And they said, “No, people from the industry
are coming.” I did my monologue, I think it was about Little Bo Peep [laughs],
and the next day like five people called us. Then I ended up with a manager and
an agent, and found myself in California doing a tv show!

I know you're a Queens girl. Was it hard transitioning to Los Angeles?Just the energy out here is different. The fact that it never snows
is weird! Every time it rains people don’t go outside for three days. Like what
are you doing, it’s just rain [laughs]. So it was definitely an adjustment, but
I really do love it out here.

How did you score your role on Game Shakers?I landed it just like how anyone else would land the role. It was basically my first job; I really hadn’t acted before. I was very new, but I auditioned and then I got a call back. Then it was a lot of flying back to L.A. and then back to home to New York. After a few meetings I landed the pilot.

Have you had embarrassing moments on set of the show?Oh all the time! There was actually this one scene where I was
trying on dresses because we had to go to this party. I was running in a room
back and forth wearing heels. So I took a dress off the rack and as I’m running
towards the back of the Game Shakers [set] I completely slipped under myself
and fell so hard! But me trying to keep it going, I stood up, looked back and
the entire cast was on the verge of hysterical laughter. I improvised a quick
line that went with the scene, finished my mark and Dan [Schneider, the show
creator] liked it so much that he kept it in. And it actually aired in the
episode.

Ricky Middlesworth

So what has been your favorite episode to shoot so far?It hasn’t aired yet! I’ll tell you that it’s very iconic and when
you see it on TV you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Kel Mitchel also stars on the show and he's a Nickelodeon veteran. Do you get any advice from
him?Kel is just in incredible. Not even just as an actor, but as a
person. When we have 7 o’clock call times and everyone on set is asleep, he
comes on set and literally sings us a song every single morning. “Good morning
beautiful PEOPLEEEE!” Everybody wakes up and starts laughing! He is just great.
I’ve personally learned a lot by just watching how he delivers his lines, or
how he messes up but manages to keep going and make it funnier. And all of his
improve too. In the middle of a line maybe he’ll decide to run up to a
trampoline and start jumping on it just because he can. I’m so honored to be
working with someone who I can learn so much from.

Nickelodeon and Disney are known for shaping some of the biggest
teen stars like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande. Do you feel confident that you’re one of
the next teens to take over TV?I know I will definitely try! I’ve developed such a love for acting
and all I can hope for is longevity and to do more respected work.

“Beyoncé is the CEO of Beyoncé!”

— Cree Cicchino

Is it hard to balance normal teen life going to movies or mall with work?In some ways not at all. I don’t really met fans a lot on the street. It’ll happen once or twice if I’m with other Nick stars. It can get a little difficult balancing school and work. Right now I’m on hiatus so it’s a bit easier now that I don’t have too much to do and I’m not on set for 9 hours a day every single day. When you work a long day you just want to go home and sleep, but you do have homework. Or when it’s the weekend and you’re dead from the week and don’t even want to move from your bed, but you want to go out to Universal with friends. So it can be a little harder sometimes. But it doesn’t affect me too much.

What are some things you like to do when you have time off?Honestly I find so much relaxation just laying down with the dogs and binge-watching shows. It’s important to have your down time. All of my friends know that if I’m tired and I just want to go somewhere, then we’ll have a froyo date and eat way too much!

I know Beyoncé is one of your biggest inspirations, what is it about her that you connect with? First of all, dancing-wise…like I said I was in competitions and did all sorts of styles from ballet to tap. When I moved out here, I focused more on hip-hop and jazz, and that’s what Beyoncé does. I just love her voice, where she could pull off R&B songs and then a pop song and then she’ll go really slow. I think I’ve always been inspired by the fact that she works so hard for herself 24/7. Beyoncé is the CEO of Beyoncé! I also really admire that she took time to take breaks in between tours because she needs to be a real person now and then.

Being of Ecuadorian background, do you think Latin representation on TV can improve?Of course. We’ve got so much work to do, but it is starting to
flourish. One of my favorite shows is Jane the Virgin. Me and my mom found it
and we binge-watched an entire season in one day. It’s such a great
representation of Latino families and Gina Rodriguez is so ridiculously
talented. So there’s definitely a lot more to be done, but we’re at a good
start right now.

Do you feel pressure to prove yourself in the industry because of
your age?No actually, not really. All the castmates who are also 14, I think
we try to stay very professional. And the adult crew members are open to
hearing our ideas and the writers room likes to hear our opinions on things.
Same with Dan and the director. They all do a great job of taking us seriously.

Who are some of your favorite teen actors and singers at the moment?There are so many great ones. I think Sabrina Carpenter is such a
talented singer. And even my friends on Nickelodeon, I respect all of them so
much. Rowan Blanchard is amazing. She says some really great things and shares
her opinion quite outwardly, which I really respect.

You use social media a lot! Any favorite memes recently?I don’t think I actually ever posted a meme. But just from looking
at them…you know the one with that guy on the phone looking really mad? That
one’s a classic! I’m hysterical every time I see that guy.

Is there anything you think adults don’t understand about teens?I’m more of an old lady than a teenager! I’m always at home with the dogs, drinking tea and watching TV. But for everyone it’s different. I think kids have a lot of thoughts and creativity that doesn’t get taken as seriously by adults. I think they have so much potential that’s not being looked at.